Esto es muy bueno.

Today, Friday, November 4, 2011, we met our son. Maria Elena and her sister picked us up at 9:00 a.m. and drove us to Chiquitines. Everyone again welcomed us with big smiles and hugs. At around 9:30 a.m., the orphanage director took us back in the same room where we met yesterday and went over a few more things with us. She explained that we are entering the "foster parenting" stage of the adoption, and we will finalize it in the next 2-3 weeks. She explained that we would meet with ICBF (the national agency responsible for adoptions) on November 9th, and we would come back to tour the orphanage, take pictures, and say goodbye on November 10th. One statement that stayed with me: "From now on, you take on the moral, emotional and economic responsibility for Michael." She is a wonderful lady, and I will never forget how kind and warm she was to us. Fun fact - she told us she lived in New Orleans for a bit, and she is so happy that Michael will live in Louisiana and be an LSU and Saints fan. ;) Small world indeed.

Maria Elena came in with our camera, and they motioned for the staff to bring Michael in. I caught a glimpse of them walking down the hall toward us as the door opened. I giggled and pointed to Ford to look. And he just kept getting bigger and bigger until he was right in front of us. ;) He kind of just looked up at us, taking it all in, then came right to me. After a few moments, he held out his arms for Ford. He seemed to really be taken with Ford, and we think maybe this is because he has not had any men in his life until now. ??? Just a theory. ;) The orphanage director embraced all of us in a group hug. It was such a human experience - 2 different groups of caregivers from different parts of the world, all wanting the same thing, uniting for another human being. I am so humbled to be a part of this. The staff gave us a few minutes alone with Michael, and we just talked to him about nonsense, I'm sure. ;) I can't recall exactly.

We then headed back to the hotel with Maria Elena and her sister. Her sister was driving, and she took the back roads because she doesn't like the traffic. We were glad because Colombia doesn't require carseats. Michael rode in Ford's lap the whole way back. She also drove us by her apartment and pointed it out to us. We got to the hotel around 10:30 a.m. and just sat him on the bed and played with him for a while. He got sleepy, and we put him down for a nap around 11:15. He went right to sleep in the pack-n-play with Ford patting his back (after only a little crying). ;)

He woke up around 12:30, and we fed him lunch. He's not too sure about baby food yet, so he had some cheese, banana, a little baby food and some juice. Then we played a bit. He said "Dada" - yes, he really did - with a big ole smile on his face. He likes the toys we brought. Ford gave him one of the teething rings from the fridge and he just loved it on his teeth. He is pulling up great by himself and even took two steps by himself right to Ford. We walked him all over our hotel room this afternoon. He likes to beat his hands on everything - I joke that he's going to be a drummer (like Pop). ;)

Around 4:00-4:30, we put him down for his second nap. Again, he went right to sleep with Ford's hand on his back. We both laid down while he napped. Around 6:00, we decided to wake him up because we wanted him to sleep good tonight. It actually took us a few minutes to wake him up; he was sleeping so good. ;) We had some dinner - banana, some cheese and ham, some baby food (which he seemed to like better this time) and juice, all while Gram, Pop and Aunt Von skyped along. ;)

We gave him his first bath, which he loved! He just splashed and splashed and ended up getting us just as wet as him. I took some video of it. We fixed his bottle, and he only took about half of it before we could tell he just wanted to go to sleep. It took an even shorter time for him to go to sleep this time. He had a long day. We have too. I have a feeling Ford and I will fall asleep just as easily tonight. ;)

We are giving Michael breathing treatments throughout the day for asthma, and he is so good at letting us do this. He seems to know what to do. I credit again the wonderful the caregivers and doctors at Chiquitines.

Michael should be a pro at Skype after today. We skyped Gram and Pop (3 times); Aunt Cathy, Uncle George, cousins Daniel and Lizzie, Aunt Mary Nell and Mr. Jim; Jennifer; and Mamai, Rebecca, Brian and Sophie. Tomorrow, we get to Skype with Blake; Papa Ford and Nana; and Doug, Lauren, Ainsley and Tanner before the LSU game.

It has been an incredible day - one I will remember for the rest of my life. Every now and then, Ford and I have looked at each other and smiled, knowing this is going to all be okay, and just reassuring each other. On the way to the hotel from Chiquitines today, I thought "this is very good", but said it out loud in Spanish.

Esto es muy bueno.